Optimizing Revenue: Targeting a Whopping $260 Billion from Trade

State budget revenue from import-export activities increases by 9.1%

On August 8, the Customs Department announced that in the first seven months of 2025, state budget revenue from import and export activities reached VND 261,376 billion, equivalent to 63.6% of the estimate and 55.6% of the target. This figure represents a 9.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Accordingly, the total import and export turnover of goods in the first seven months reached US$514.72 billion, up 16.3%, equivalent to an increase of US$72.27 billion compared to the same period last year. Of this, export turnover reached US$262.46 billion, up 14.8%, equivalent to an increase of US$33.92 billion compared to the same period last year, and import turnover reached US$252.26 billion, up 17.9%, or US$38.35 billion higher than the previous year. Vietnam’s trade balance of goods in the first seven months of 2025 surplus of US$10.20 billion, down 30.3% compared to the surplus of US$14.64 billion in the same period last year.

The Customs Department also said that in the first seven months, the situation of smuggled goods and illegal transportation of goods across the border remained complex. Domestically, the production and trading of counterfeit goods, substandard goods, goods of unknown origin, and intellectual property infringement were still rampant in many places and increasing on e-commerce platforms on a large scale and over extended periods, especially for goods affecting people’s health, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and dietary supplements.

Along with that, there are still cases of taking advantage of favorable conditions in import and export activities to commit smuggling and trade fraud on routes and in localities, mainly on sea and road routes.

Specifically, the sea route still accounts for the largest proportion of violations, with 899 out of 1,790 cases, or 50.2% of the detected, arrested, and handled cases. Goods are mainly transported through important seaports such as Van Gia, Dinh Vu, Nam Hai Dinh Vu, Tan Vu, VIP Green, Cat Lai, ICD Phuoc Long, Hiep Phuoc, Vict, and Cai Mep. Illegal trading and transportation of diesel oil, coal, cosmetics, and food take place in some areas in the Northeast and Central regions. The subjects take advantage of the complex terrain and long coastline, as well as peak times, to illegally transport frozen food, seafood, seeds, poultry, coal, gasoline, and cosmetics. Typical cases involve the detection and arrest of export consignments (garlic, electric welding rods, and folding chairs) with signs of fake Vietnamese origin for export to the US.

In addition, on the road route, in July 2025 alone, 669 out of 1,790 cases were detected and handled, accounting for 37% of the total detected, arrested, and handled cases. These cases mainly occurred on the Vietnam-China and Vietnam-Cambodia borders. The subjects took advantage of favorable policies in import and export activities and border area incentives to smuggle and illegally transport goods across the border by mixing goods and hiding prohibited and high-value items such as foreign currency, cigarettes, and mobile phones in their personal belongings and luggage. Illegal trading and transportation of explosives and white sugar continue to occur in the central provinces and the Vietnam-Laos border area.

According to the customs authorities, from the beginning of the year until now, 10,351 cases have been detected and handled, with an estimated value of VND 15,095 billion. State budget revenue reached about VND 537.88 billion. Customs authorities initiated prosecution in 10 cases and transferred 68 cases to other agencies for prosecution.